Last year the EPA said that any business emitting more than 25,000 tons of greenhouse gasses would need to get a permit from the EPA. The measure would require that businesses track and be accountable for their emissions to the EPA and, in effect, to the Federal government. While there is legislation from both sides of the aisle to stop this kind of federal regulation, the Obama administration is moving forward- not as forward as they were last year, though.

This week the EPA announced that it would raise the cut-off for who needs to get a permit.

"If you're smaller than 75,000 tons, you will not need a permit for the next two years,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson.

Not a huge bump, but it does give small businesses another two years to get their greenhouse gas credentials in order- while still requiring big things from the big guys. I think it’s an interesting political strategy from Obama. He is relaxing the requirement slightly, showing that he is somewhat flexible, but not changing anything for the big industries, which will win him points around the world. And it will win him points from this writer. I appreciate that he is cracking down on this. Even if it gets pushed up and even if there isn’t cap and trade, I think that acknowledging that carbon emissions can and should be regulated in the same way that smog or car emissions or the runoff that goes into streams and lakes is is an important step.

It shows that the government takes it seriously, which is a big deal. Can you imagine President Bush even entertaining the thought of limiting the carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas emissions from industries? I cannot. In fact, I imagine the semi-contemplative George Bush face where he is trying to figure out which part of his original statement to make again that will help cure you of your incorrect perspective and get you to understand why he and what he is saying is right.

To get the permit, you have to prove to the EPA that you are using the best available technologies on any GHG producing activities. Interesting tactic.

Hospitals, schools and other big buildings like that will get out of the permitting process through the GHG level raise, but industrial plants will still have to deal with it.

There doesn’t seem to be enough support in the senate to say for sure that the climate change bill that Obama truly loves the most will actually pass. This move is in fact part of his strategy to get folks behind the bill- let’s hope it works.

The EPA seems to be adapting as they go and making up rules as they go along. What a huge difference 75,000 is from 25,000! And now the EPA is saying that no one under 25,000 or 50,000 will end up getting regulated at all. Two thoughts: one, that that will incentivize lots of smaller plants for a company to come in under those numbers, so new business will develop lots more production facilities and two, that Obama just may have a winner on his hands if the senate keeps theirs off of it.  

Photo Credit: Bill Ward's Brickpile (via Flickr under CCL)